ISTANBUL, TURKEY – JUNE 10: Edin Dzeko of FC Internazionale reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Ataturk Olympic Stadium on June 10, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Former Inter and Roma striker Edin Dzeko defined his Nerazzurri exit in the summer of 2023 as a ‘strange decision’ as he recalled the club’s choice to part ways with the player to make room for Romelu Lukaku.
While he had a relevant role in Simone Inzaghi’s side, Inter eventually decided not to renew his contract as they planned to sign Romelu Lukaku for a second time from Chelsea at the end of a seasonal loan, a deal that eventually collapsed paving the way for Marcus Thuram’s arrival at the Stadio San Siro.
Dzeko: Inter could keep me ‘at no cost’, Lukaku had his chance to ‘make a difference’ in UCL final
“If they chose this way, it means that everyone agreed, coach and executives,” Dzeko told La Gazzetta dello Sport about Inter’s decision to let him leave in order to keep Lukaku at the San Siro.
“To me, it looked like a strange decision, because you could keep a player who started all the important games, including the Champions League final, at no cost and have four strikers in your squad.
“It looked very strange to me, that’s all. Then, I understood it with time and respected it, also because everyone treated me very well at Inter.”
Inzaghi started Dzeko over Lukaku on several occasions during the 2022-2023 season, ending up drawing criticism, but the Bosnian striker believes the coach had a reason to do so.
“Everyone can talk… But I say: do you think that a coach can choose to field a player who is not as good as the one he keeps on the bench? And doing it in a Champions League final?,” Dzeko added.
“I remained calm, I knew what I could give to the team. For sure Lukaku was not happy not to start, it’s normal.
“But then you come on and make a difference, if you can: he had 30 minutes [in the Champions League final], he came with the scoreline still being 0-0, and then…”.
Dzeko has moved to Fenerbahce after leaving Inter, scoring 21 goals from 36 games in the Turkish top-tier in his first season at the club.